Films have this extremely powerful tool that can control emotions inside of your mind that you probably never knew even existed, sadness, for example.
If a movie connects with you so much, that you feel yourself welling up with tears, you know that the director has done his job correctly.
Here's a small list of films that will make you cry, unless you have the emotional capacity of a lemon, or you're Tony Abbott and therefore completely numbed to the eye-watering effects of onions.
(Note: Just as any previous list, this is completely my own opinion, again, there have been many people who didn't even shed the tiniest tear for any of the following films, because they have no heart/soul/tear ducts)
[ N U M B E R | F I V E | Forrest Gump, 1994 ]
(Tear Precipitation- 10mm)
Forrest Gump is a deemed a modern masterpiece in contemporary cinema. Almost every inch of the production of the film is flawless, from the music to the acting. It's also really, really sad. I watched the film for the first time when I was quite young, and didn't fully grasp the themes that it tackles. But once I became older, I re-lived the film, and my oh my, the tears were too real.
If anybody asks me 'what's the film you cried the most in?', I always reply with this movie, because it's heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Damn you feelings, damn you.
[ N U M B E R | F O U R | The Boy In Striped Pyjamas, 2008 ]
(Tear Precipitation- 40mm)
The holocaust was one of the most horrific things to happen to man, in history. When a film tackles such a devastating event in time, it has to be done with extreme care and integrity, as well as an immense sense of cautiousness. By placing the innocence of childhood smack-bang in the middle of the holocaust, to see a child's perspective of the entire event, is nothing more than genius.
The Boy In Striped Pyjamas (adapted from the book by John Boyne) is the story of Bruno, who is the son of an SS officer. Bruno is very inquisitive and curious, and soon finds himself befriending another young boy, Schmuel.
The two boys are extremely good actors, and the cinematography throughout the film is sublime. Vera Farmiga, one of my favourite actresses, plays Bruno's mother, and does a damn fine job, too.
Although I do agree that the film has some flaws, in the sense of historical facts, it does have a lot else to offer. The climax of the film is completely heartbreaking, with a conclusion that will leave you cowering for the tissue-box.
[ N U M B E R | T H R E E | Amy, 2015 ]
(Tear Precipitation- 120mm)
Yes, Amy. The documentary about Amy Winehouse. There is an extremely overused word that is implemented to describe really sad films, and that word is 'tragic'. Although, when it comes to Amy Winehouse, that is the only word I can use to describe her final few years.
As mentioned before, when re-telling a tragedy on screen, there needs to be a huge sense of care involved. But while watching this film, you really feel like you know Amy, and that she wasn't a huge jazz superstar, but just a friend. We see her grow up, with music being a huge part of her life throughout the entire journey, right up until the end.
There was a fantastic quote in this film, and one that I probably won't ever forget when I think of Amy - "the whole world wanted a piece of her, but she didn't have enough pieces to give".
I've never sobbed in any film, in my entire life, but when I watched Amy, I broke that record.
[ N U M B E R | T W O | Life Is Beautiful, 1977 ]
(Tear Precipitation- 250mm)
Buongiorno Principessa!
This film. This damn film. Again, I watched this at a really young age and didn't fully understand what was going on, I only knew that there were really cool tanks, and guns and stuff. But little did I know, those tanks and guns belonged to goddamn nazis. So, once I was older, I realised how horrifying this film really is, and how dire it is.
It follows the story of Guido, who, through endless chivalry, marries Dora. Together they have a son, but fives years later they're captured and put into a concentration camp.
Guido doesn't want his young son to realise that they're imprisoned, so decides to pretend it's all a game, and whoever wins the game gets a tank.
If you haven't cried in a film before and haven't seen Life Is Beautiful, then it's time to pop that cherry, because it will definitely do the trick.
[ N U M B E R | O N E | The Green Mile 1999 ]
(Tear Precipitation- INFINITE mm)
I think you saw it coming, right? Anyone who has seen this movie and is asked the question "what's the saddest movie you've ever seen?", The Green Mile is most likely be the response.
The film is about Paul Edgecomb (played by Tom Hanks, in which I think is his best role to date), who is a correctional officer on death-row. One day, there is a new inmate, John Coffey (played by the late, and fantastic actor Michael Clarke Duncan), who is imprisoned and sentenced to death for the brutal murder of two young girls.
That's all i'm tellin' ya. Because this film deserves a nice long watch, with plenty of kleenex and chocolate for the sad ride ahead. There's certain scenes where you'll be blubbering like a baby, and others where you'll feel a small little tear form in the corner of your eye. But if your eyes are dry after this film, you need to either go and see an optometrist, or go to a church to redeem your empty soul.